NAN-H-25
Driver
By Deborah Akpede
Lagos, July 13, 2017 (NAN) A 39-year-old taxi driver, Olajide Stephen, who allegedly stole a passenger’s 3, 600 dollars (N1.3 million), was on Thursday released on N500,000 bail on the orders of an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.
The accused, a resident of Oshodi area of Lagos, is facing a charge of stealing.
He, however, entered a `not-guilty’ plea.
The Magistrate, Mrs M.I. Dan-Oni, who gave the ruling, also ordered the accused to produce two sureties as part of the bail condition.
She said the sureties must be gainfully employed and should also show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
But the prosecutor, Insp. Essien Ndarake, insisted that the accused committed the offence on June 18 at the Departure Hall of the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
He alleged that the accused stole 3,600 dollars ( about N1.3 million), property of Mr and Mrs Musa Olamide, who hired the accused’s taxi to take them to the airport.
“The complainant accompanied her husband, who was travelling to the U.S., hired the accused’s taxi to take them to the airport.
“On their way to the airport, the complainant asked the accused to stop for them to buy cooked corn, she dropped the money which she was holding, wrapped in a nylon, on the car seat and came down to buy the corn.
“When they got to the airport, the accused unloaded their belongings and quickly drove off.
“After the accused had left, the complainant discovered that the nylon containing the money had disappeared,” she told the court.
The prosecutor said the accused was later traced to his park and on interrogation, he claimed that he did not see the money.
The offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the section stipulates three years imprisonment for offenders.
The case was adjourned until Aug. 16 for mention. (NAN)
DOA/AOM/DA
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(Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed/Dele Akinsola)